ARTICLES ABOUT PLAINFIELD BY DATE - PAGE 4

The following reports are based on information provided by the Plainfield, Bolingbrook and Romeoville police departments: Plainfield A 35-year-old Plainfield woman was arrested at 6 a.m. April 25 and charged with domestic battery and possession of drug equipment. Bolingbrook Twenty-one tires were reported stolen April 22 from several tractors parked in the 100 block of South Joliet Road. The loss was valued at $10,500. A theft of $4,200 in cash was reported April 21 in the 1200 block of Jennifer Lane.

The Plainfield East girls soccer team has followed a predictable, yet frustrating pattern through its first 11 games. The Bengals have a talented roster with many underclassmen and are still trying to close out games consistently. "They work really hard and are willing to go the extra mile and are a good group, but our work eventually has to pay off," coach Jamie Caruso said of her 2-7-2 team. "They're a great group of girls, but it's frustrating to lose 1-0 or tie 1-1. That hard work has to pay off. " The Bengals' two wins came against Joliet West and Romeoville, which played without its starting goalie in an 8-0 game.

Substitute teachers will be getting a bump in pay in Plainfield Community Unit School District 202. School board members Monday approved increasing substitute teacher to $100 a day from $90. "We've increased the pay to be comparable to other districts," board member Michelle Smith said. The salary increase is expected to cost the district about $150,000. Last November, the district made a public plea for more substitute teachers after the district's list of them shrunk to about 560. On average, the district uses about 240 subs each day, but has used as many as 350 in a day. Substitutes are called in for a variety of reasons, including teacher illness, training or field trips.

The Plainfield Central girls soccer team struggled early this season despite a talented core group of players. The squad lost its first four games, which did not bode well with conference play and the PepsiCo Showdown around the corner. But the Wildcats may have turned the page in their last few games. Plainfield Central improved to 5-6 overall after a 5-0 victory against Jacobs at the PepsiCo Showdown on Saturday at Olympic Park in Schaumburg. "We're starting to put together some wins, and the girls are coming together," Plainfield Central coach Ken Schoen said.

In many ways, the Plainfield North girls soccer team differs from last season's. But the personnel changes haven't affected the numbers on the scoreboard. Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association All-state forward Ashley Handwork and several other starters from last season's 21-4 team graduated, but the Tigers (8-0-1 through Saturday) have stayed on course following Saturday's 2-1 penalty-kick victory against Fenwick at the PepsiCo Showdown at Olympic Park in Schaumburg.

As Plainfield trustees figure out what to do with potential requests to locate medical marijuana dispensaries or grow facilities in their town, one group is gearing up to help others understand how medical marijuana works. Mother Earth Holistic Health is set to open its offices in downtown Plainfield in the coming weeks. The nonprofit group has worked with state lawmakers in developing the state law legalizing medical marijuana. The group plans to host seminars to educate patients about the regulations and boost public awareness of medical marijuana.

A Plainfield man found guilty last year of killing his girlfriend's son had the verdict vacated and was granted a new trial by a Will County judge on April 4. Santos Loza, 33, was found guilty in October in the 2008 death of his girlfriend's child, 9-month-old Kevion Bender. Judge Sarah Jones ruled that Loza's conviction on first-degree murder be vacated in a court order issued April 4. Jones agreed in the order with an argument made by Loza's attorneys in a post-conviction appeal.

The following items are based on police reports: Bolingbrook Two metal grates valued at $200 were stolen April 2 between noon and 4:10 p.m. from the dock of a business in the 800 block of East Boughton Road. A package valued at $110 was stolen between March 12 and April 1 from the door step of a residence in the 800 block of Summit Lane. $30 in earrings were stolen April 1 at 4:30 p.m. from Kohl's at 1138 W. Boughton Rd. Three lockers were forced open and wallets and credit cards stolen between noon and 12:10 p.m. April 1 at L.A. Fitness at 506 N. Janes Ave. A tire was reported cut April 1 between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. on a vehicle parked in the 100 block of Bedford Road.

A proposed state law that would expand the Plainfield Park District from five to seven members passed out of the Illinois House on Tuesday and moved on to the state Senate for consideration. The measure, passed by a vote of 100-12, also would give the bill's sponsors — Illinois state Rep. Tom Cross, R-Oswego, and Illinois state Sen. Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, D-Shorewood, — the power to appoint the two new park board members. It also would, in effect, help eliminate a three-member majority on the board whose actions have come under question.

Plainfield Park District commissioners Tuesday rejected the board president's efforts to impose term limits. Board President Peter Hurtado proposed a policy that would limit commissioners to serving two six-year terms. Commissioners voted 4-1 against the measure, with Hurtado casting the only vote for it. Park board attorney Matt Campbell said the measure was not legal and likely would open the district to lawsuits challenging the policy. Hurtado, however, continued to push for the policy noting that other municipalities have term limits.